Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

H. SGHAEPPER.

OAR COUPLING.

Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

Iieven jiiazy/i'fiaffer (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. SGHAEFI'ER. GARCOUPLING No. 462,589. Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY SCHAEFFER, OF RIDGW'AY, COLORADO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,589, dated November3, 1891.

Application filed July 18, 1891. 1 Serial No. 399,942. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY SOHAEFFER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ridgway, in the county of Ouray and State of Colorado, haveinvented new and useful Improve ments in Oar-Couplings, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of automatic car-couplings whichemploy an arrowhead link; and it consists in the peculiar features ofconstruction and in the combination and relative arrangement of devices,as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is an endelevation of a car provided with my improved coupling devices. Fig. 2 isa bottom plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section ofthe coup ling. Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of a portion of thecoupling, showing the manner of releasing the link for the purpose ofuncoupling. Fig. 5 is a perspective of the principal parts of thecar-coupling. Fig. 6 is a view of a link having an arrow-shaped head atone end to engage with myimproved coupling devices and provided at itsother end with an eye or slot to engage the pin of an ordinary coupling.Fig. 7 is atransverse section of my improved coupling-lin k.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the draw-head, whichis provided with a flaring, concaved, or beveled mouth having across-shaped aperture 2 for passage of an arrow-headed link 3, that iscross-shaped in transverse section, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The upperand lower surfaces of the drawhead 1 in rear of its forward end areformed with recesses 4, that extend at their outer ends entirely acrossthe draw-head and com Inunicate by longitudinal slots 5 with itsinterior. These recesses 4: afford accommodation for a pair ofvertically-swinging yokes (5, Figs. 2, 3, and 5,that are pivoted attheir rear ends on removable horizontal pivot-pins 7, provided with nuts8, by which the said parts are held in place, so as to be readilydetached and replaced when necessary. One of these vertically-swingingyokes (i is arranged in each recess 4= above and below the draw-head,

and each yoke is provided on one side with a horizontally-projectingplate 9, Fig. 5, that is perforated to permit its movement along avertical rod 10, having nuts 11 on its upper and lower ends andsurrounded outside said plates by spirally-coiled springs 12, that bearagainst said plates and nuts, and thereby hold the plates in a normallyhorizontal position with their attached yokes 6 parallel to each otherin the recessesel of the draw-head. By means of the nuts 11 the springs12 can be readily adjusted when required. In their normally parallel andhorizontal position the yokes 6 are pressed by the springs 12 in closecontact with the upper and lower surfaces of thedraw-head and extendacross theslots 5 and upper and lower arms of the cross-shaped aperture2 in position to engage the shoulders 13 of the arrow-shaped link 3 whentwo cars are brought together in proper position for coupling. It willbe seen that the convened or beveled arrow-shaped heads of the link 3enable it to pass readily into the aperture 2 and between the upper andlower yokes 6, gradually forcing said yokes apart against the action ofthe springs 12 until the arrowshaped head of the link has enteredsuiticiently far to clear the yokes, when they are immediately forcedtoward each other by the tension of the springs 12, and are thus causedto engage the shoulders 13 of the link, thereby coupling the carsautomatically.

In order to provide for a free lateral and vertical play of the link 3,and at the same time prevent any liability of its turning and therebybecoming disengaged from the yokes 6, the said link is provided on eachside with a longitudinal rib 11 at right angles to the arrow-shaped headand the main web of the link, which is thus made cross shape intransverse section to correspond with .the crossshaped aperture 2 of thedraw-head. By this construction the coupling is rendered very safe andsecure, and a sufficient play of the link is afforded for readilyturning curves and for permitting the convenient coupling of cars ofunequal height.

For the purpose of enabling the crossshaped arrow-head link 3 to be usedwith a car having a draw-head provided with the ordinary link-and-pinopenings, the arrowheaded link may be provided at one end with a slot oreye 15, Fig. 6, for engagement with the usual vertically-movablecoupling-pin. This link having the eye 15enables cars provided with myimproved coupling devices to be readily connected with cars in which thedraw-heads are adapted only for use with the ordinary pin-coupling. Imay also provide the forward end of the draw-head 1 with a verticalopening 16,-to adapt it for use with the ordinary pin-and-open-linkcoupling when necessity requires.

Between the plates 9 of the swinging yokes 6 is arranged a cam 17, Figs.at and 5, that is mounted securely on one end of a transverse shaft 18,supported in suitable bearings 19 at the end of the car. The shaft .18may be provided with an arm 20, to which is attached one end of aconnectingrod 21, theother end of which is connected with an arm 22 onone end of a rock-shaft 23, that is mounted transversely in suitablebearings at the rear or inner end of the draw-head. On the other end ofthe rock-shaft 23 is an arm 24:, which may be connected bya chain 25with a horizontally-swinging hand-lever 26, by which the rock-shaft 23and its connections with the cam-shaft 18 can be actuated so as to rockthe cam' 17, and thereby cause it to spread or swing apart the plates 9against the action of the springs 12, as shown in Fig. at, so as todisengage the yokes (3 from the shoulders 13 of the link 3, and thusuncouple the cars. The rock-shaft arm 24 may also be connected by achain 27 with a horizontal lever 28 that is arranged to be'acted on by avertical laterally-swinging hand-lever 29, which may be extended to thetop of the box-car. By means of the levers 26 and 29 the cars can bereadily and safely uncoupled from either the side or the top of a car,as occasion may require.

Instead of the hand-levers 26 and 29 and their connections with thecam-shaft 18, I may connect with the outer end of said shaft 18 asuitable miter-gearing and vertical rotary shaft, as shown by dottedlines in Fig. 1, whereby the cam 17 can be actuated by means of ahand-wheel on the top or platform of the car. This is a convenientarrangement when the described coupling devices are attached to apassenger-car.

The several parts of the coupling are of simple and durableconstruction, effective and reliable in operation, and may be readilyrepaired when required without incurring any large expense.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a car-coupling, the combination,with a slotted draw-head having a mouth provided with a cross-shapedaperture, and a link that is cross-shaped in transverse section andprovided with an arrow-shaped head, of a pair of vertically-swingingyokes pivoted horizontally above and below the draw-head and normally incontact therewith in position to engage the shouldered ends 'of thelink, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a slotted draw-head having amouth provided with a cross-shaped aperture and a link that is crossshapein transverse section and provided with a shouldered arrow-shapedhead, of a pair of vertically-swinging yokespivoted horizontally aboveand below the draw-head and provided with laterally-proj ectin g plates,and springs arranged to bear on said plates and hold the yokes normallyin position to engage the shouldered ends of the link, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a slotted draw-head having amouth provided with a cross-shaped aperture and a link that is crossshape in transverse section and provided with a shouldered arrow-shapedhead, of a pair of vertically-swinging yokes pivoted horizontally aboveand below the draw-head and provided with laterally-projecting horiz'ontal plates, springs arranged to bear on said plates and hold the yokesnormally in position to engage the shouldered ends of the link, a cammounted between said plates to spread the yokes apart and therebyrelease the link, and mechanism for actuating said cam, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a longitudinallyslotteddraw-head having its upper and lower surfaces recessed, of a pair ofvertically-swinging yokes pivoted horizontally above and below thedraw-head and normally in contact with the said recessed surfacesthereof, horizontal laterally-projecting plates attached to said yokes,springs arranged to bear on said plates and hold the yokes normally inposition to engage a shouldered link, a cam mounted between said platesto spread the yokes apart and thereby release the link, and mechanismfor actuating said cam, substantially as described.

5. In a car-coupling, the combination of the recessed andlongitudinally-slotted draw-head having a mouth provided with across-shaped aperture, a link that is cross shape'in transverse sectionand provided with a shouldered arrow-shaped head, a pair ofvertically-swinging yokes pivoted horizontally above and below thedraw-head in position to normally en gage the shouldered ends of thelink, springs to hold said yokes in engagement with the link, and a camand its actuating mechanism for spreading the yokes vertically apart torelease the link and uncouple the cars, substantially as described.

6. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head having a mouthprovided with a cross-shaped aperture, of a link that is cross shape intransverse section, wherebyit is prevented from turning when engaged insaid draw-head, and mechanism for interlocking with said link to couplethe cars to which it is attached, substantially as described.

7. I11 a car-coupling, the combination of a In testimony whereof I havehereunto set draw-head having a mouth provided with a my hand inpresence of two subscribing Witeross-shapecl aperture, a link that iscross nesses.

shape in transverse section, automatic 1116Gh- HENRY SGHAEFFER. 5 anismfor engaging and interlocking with said lvitnesses:

link, and means for releasing and disengag- JOHN KINKAID,

ing the link, substantially as described. C. E. CRISWELL.

